To link to the entire object, paste this link in email, IM or documentTo embed the entire object, paste this HTML in websiteTo link to this page, paste this link in email, IM or documentTo embed this page, paste this HTML in website

I
Student Newspaper of the University of Southern California Since 1912
dailytrojan.com
September 2, 2004
Vol. CL1II. No. 9
Scientists say quake could hit by Sept. 5
Predicted Earthquake Area
Jason Cooper I Daily Troian
WEATHER
Today: Mostly sunny. High of 83, low of 65.
Tomorrow: High 79, low 61.
Man Seutew I Darfy Troian
It Matter*. Eugene Bickers, chair of the department of physics and astronomy, spoke to a group of nearly 100 students and faculty at Ground Zero Coffeehouse Wednesday at noon.
"Firewalker" professor shares values of learning
INSIDE
Butch Walker has paid his rock dues as a producer and now takes the stage himself. 7
USC scientist says earthquake prediction is unlikely, however.
By JAMES R. KOREN
Staff Writer
An international team of scientists predicts that a moderate to major earthquake could hit southern California by Sunday, but other scientists and earthquake experts said the prediction is too vague to warrant special action.
The team, led by Russian-born Vladimir Keilis-Borok, predicted that an earthquake would hit the central portion of southern California between January and September.
Getty designer, USC alum dies at 86
The prediction states that an earthquake, of magnitude 6.4 or greater, will happen within a 12,440-square-mile area, including parts of Imperial, San Bernardino, San Diego and Riverside counties, according to the United States Geological Survey’s Web site.
The nine-month window opened on Jan. 5. and closes this Sunday, Sept. 5.
The prediction is based on the theory that a series of small earthquakes often leads up to a large earthquake, said Thomas Jordan, professor of earth sciences and director of the Southern California Earthquake Center at USC.
Using this method, Keilis-Borok and his colleagues successfully predicted two earthquakes in 2003, a magnitude 8.1 earthquake that struck
Hokkaido, Japan last September, and the magnitude 6.5 quake in San Simeon in December, according to the USGS.
If there is an earthquake in the specified region on or before Sunday, Keilis-Borok will have three correct predictions in a row.
Keilis-Borok and his team report that their predictions are right about 50 percent of the time, Jordan said.
“They probably can't predict earthquakes as well as they say they can," he said.
Within a nine-month period, the chance of randomly predicting an earthquake is about one in 12, or about 8 percent, Jordan said.
The Keilis-Borok team's chances of predicting an earthquake is some-I see Earthquake, page 111
Eugene Bickers opened this year's "What Matters to Me and Why" series Wednesday.
By JOANNA WU
Contributing Writer
Eugene Bickers, chair of the department of physics and astronomy, opened this year’s “What Matters to Me and Why” speaker series at noon Wednesday, telling students it didn’t matter how many university degrees a student obtained.
“I think we all have the same faults and we all have the same good points underneath," he said. “1 don’t think an education changes some fundamental parts of us.”
Bickers spoke to a crowd of nearly 100 students and faculty at Ground Zero Coffeehouse.
“I've spoken in front of a lot of different audiences—large audiences— but usually on technical subjects, and 1 find this assignment particularly intimidating," Bickers said.
The monthly talk and discussion series, sponsored by the Office of Religious Life on the first Wednesday of every month, is in its fourth year.
The series features speakers from USC faculty and administration, encouraging presenters to talk about the choices they have made, difficulties they have had and what matters to them.
“We re concerned about meaning and about making sense of life,” said Rabbi Susan Laemmle, dean of the Office of Religious Life.
Bickers talked about his blue-collar background and how much he values his family, his upbringing and his education.
“My family did not come from an advantaged background, from an academic background, but a working-class background," Bickers said.
Bickers is the first of his immediate family to
I see Bicker* page 10 i
“I don't think an education changes some fundamental parts of us. ”
EUGENE BICKERS chair department of physics and astronomy
Robert E. iangdon earned his bachelors of architecture from USC in 1944.
By SARAH MCEVILLY
Contributing Writer
Robert E. Langdon Jr., cofounder of Langdon Wilson Architects, designer of the J. Paul Getty Museum in Malibu and USC alumnus, died of natural causes on Aug. 13. He was 86 years old.
“(He was an) amazing man,
I see Langdon page 111
INDEX
Everyone's taking aim at the Trojans as the water polo team aims for another title. 16
Ctll phones can be hazarda-rous to your health. 4
Newt Digest.....: 2 Sport*......... IS
Upcoming..........2 Classifieds —12
Opinion*_________4 Lifestyle---------7

I
Student Newspaper of the University of Southern California Since 1912
dailytrojan.com
September 2, 2004
Vol. CL1II. No. 9
Scientists say quake could hit by Sept. 5
Predicted Earthquake Area
Jason Cooper I Daily Troian
WEATHER
Today: Mostly sunny. High of 83, low of 65.
Tomorrow: High 79, low 61.
Man Seutew I Darfy Troian
It Matter*. Eugene Bickers, chair of the department of physics and astronomy, spoke to a group of nearly 100 students and faculty at Ground Zero Coffeehouse Wednesday at noon.
"Firewalker" professor shares values of learning
INSIDE
Butch Walker has paid his rock dues as a producer and now takes the stage himself. 7
USC scientist says earthquake prediction is unlikely, however.
By JAMES R. KOREN
Staff Writer
An international team of scientists predicts that a moderate to major earthquake could hit southern California by Sunday, but other scientists and earthquake experts said the prediction is too vague to warrant special action.
The team, led by Russian-born Vladimir Keilis-Borok, predicted that an earthquake would hit the central portion of southern California between January and September.
Getty designer, USC alum dies at 86
The prediction states that an earthquake, of magnitude 6.4 or greater, will happen within a 12,440-square-mile area, including parts of Imperial, San Bernardino, San Diego and Riverside counties, according to the United States Geological Survey’s Web site.
The nine-month window opened on Jan. 5. and closes this Sunday, Sept. 5.
The prediction is based on the theory that a series of small earthquakes often leads up to a large earthquake, said Thomas Jordan, professor of earth sciences and director of the Southern California Earthquake Center at USC.
Using this method, Keilis-Borok and his colleagues successfully predicted two earthquakes in 2003, a magnitude 8.1 earthquake that struck
Hokkaido, Japan last September, and the magnitude 6.5 quake in San Simeon in December, according to the USGS.
If there is an earthquake in the specified region on or before Sunday, Keilis-Borok will have three correct predictions in a row.
Keilis-Borok and his team report that their predictions are right about 50 percent of the time, Jordan said.
“They probably can't predict earthquakes as well as they say they can," he said.
Within a nine-month period, the chance of randomly predicting an earthquake is about one in 12, or about 8 percent, Jordan said.
The Keilis-Borok team's chances of predicting an earthquake is some-I see Earthquake, page 111
Eugene Bickers opened this year's "What Matters to Me and Why" series Wednesday.
By JOANNA WU
Contributing Writer
Eugene Bickers, chair of the department of physics and astronomy, opened this year’s “What Matters to Me and Why” speaker series at noon Wednesday, telling students it didn’t matter how many university degrees a student obtained.
“I think we all have the same faults and we all have the same good points underneath," he said. “1 don’t think an education changes some fundamental parts of us.”
Bickers spoke to a crowd of nearly 100 students and faculty at Ground Zero Coffeehouse.
“I've spoken in front of a lot of different audiences—large audiences— but usually on technical subjects, and 1 find this assignment particularly intimidating," Bickers said.
The monthly talk and discussion series, sponsored by the Office of Religious Life on the first Wednesday of every month, is in its fourth year.
The series features speakers from USC faculty and administration, encouraging presenters to talk about the choices they have made, difficulties they have had and what matters to them.
“We re concerned about meaning and about making sense of life,” said Rabbi Susan Laemmle, dean of the Office of Religious Life.
Bickers talked about his blue-collar background and how much he values his family, his upbringing and his education.
“My family did not come from an advantaged background, from an academic background, but a working-class background," Bickers said.
Bickers is the first of his immediate family to
I see Bicker* page 10 i
“I don't think an education changes some fundamental parts of us. ”
EUGENE BICKERS chair department of physics and astronomy
Robert E. iangdon earned his bachelors of architecture from USC in 1944.
By SARAH MCEVILLY
Contributing Writer
Robert E. Langdon Jr., cofounder of Langdon Wilson Architects, designer of the J. Paul Getty Museum in Malibu and USC alumnus, died of natural causes on Aug. 13. He was 86 years old.
“(He was an) amazing man,
I see Langdon page 111
INDEX
Everyone's taking aim at the Trojans as the water polo team aims for another title. 16
Ctll phones can be hazarda-rous to your health. 4
Newt Digest.....: 2 Sport*......... IS
Upcoming..........2 Classifieds —12
Opinion*_________4 Lifestyle---------7